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Patented July 19, I898.

No. 607,68l.

D. M. B. H. CUCHRANE. AMMUNITION HOLDER FUR MACHINE GUNS.

(Application filed Jim. 24, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOUGLAS M. E. II. OOOHRANE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

AMMUNITION-HOLDER FOR MACHINE-GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,681, dated July 19, 1898.

Application filed January 24, 1898. Serial No. 667,763. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DOUGLAS MAoKINNoN BAILLIE HAMILTON COGHRANE, Earl of D undonald, a subject of the Queen of Great Brit- 'ain, residing at No. 34 Portman square, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ammunition-Holders for Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an arrangement for readily supplying ammunition to machineguns, this ammunition consisting of cartridges secured 011 a belt which by the action of the gun is caused to travel over part of the gun, presenting successive cartridges to the loading mechanism. For this purpose I mount the gun and ammunition-boxes as I shall describe, referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a vertical section with the gun shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan.

The vertical axis a, around which the gun can be turned in anydirection, is fixed in a pedestal b, which in order to give stiffness combined with lightness is preferably made hollow, as shown. Around this pedestal as an axis a polygonal or star-shaped sleeve 0 is fitted to revolve, its base preferably running on balls arranged in a race at the angle of the flange of the pedestal b. Each of the oblique sides of the sleeve 0 has in its upper part a dovetail notch into which fits a dovetail projection e from the back of an ammunition-box d. Each of these boxes has a lid f hinged to its outer side.

The lower part of the gun-mounting is provided with a bolt 9, and the top of the sleeve 0 has as many holes to receive the bolt as there are sides to receive the ammunitionboxes cl. WVhen one of these boxes is supplying the gun, the bolt 9 being inserted into the corresponding hole, then on turning the gun in any direction the sleeve and ammuni-' tion-box turn with it. When the box is emptied, the bolt 9 is withdrawn, the sleeve 0 is turned partly around, so as to bring another box containing ammunition into position, and the bolt g is inserted into the corresponding hole. This operation is repeated until all the boxes are emptied. An empty box can at any time be removed by lifting it sufficiently to clear its dovetail projection 6 out of the notch of c, and a fresh box containing ammunition can be put in its place. Although I have shown the sleeve 0 star-shaped and arranged to carry six ammunition-boxes, obviously it might be made of othersuitable formadapted to carry a smaller orgreater number of boxes, which might be made of various dimensions to suit the ammunition used for the gun.

Instead of a dovetail projection and notch other means of attaching the box to the sleeve may be adopted, such, however, as will allow of the box being readily attached and de tached. Thus, for instance, a hook or headed stud may project from the sleeve to engage in an eye or suitable recess provided in the side of the box.

The base of the pedestal b may be so shaped as to provide for its being fixed on a platform on board ship or on shore or on a guncarriage.

I claim--- Thecombination with the vertical axis and a gun-mount arranged to be rotated about said axis, of a sleeve arranged to be rotated about the said axis independently of the gunmount, a plurality of ammunition-boxes detachably supported on said sleeve, and means for adj ustably locking the gun-mount to the sleeve whereby the gun-mount and sleeve are caused to rotate in unison and the ammunition-boxes may be successively brought into operative position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

DOUGLAS M. B. H. COOIIRANE.

\Vitnesses:

WALTER J. SKER' EN, WILMER. M. Hasnrs. 

